Pistol display and device therefor



Sept. 23, 1969 F. J. LESLIE 3,468,427

PISTOL DISPLAY AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed May 22, 1967 FIG. I ;1

F I5 I I i 33 I 1 f 6 \l J J 36 34 INVENTOR.

FRAZIER J. LESLIE F G. 3 #M .W,-'V1,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,468,427 PISTOL DISPLAY AND DEVICETHEREFOR Frazier J. Leslie, 20. Sioux Way, Portola Valley, Calif. 94025Filed May 22,1967, Ser. No. 640,037 'Int. Cl. A47f 7/ 00;B65d 73/00 p 2Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pistol display wherein a U-shaped,swiveled, element is supported by a bracket tothe back panel of a shadowbox. One leg of the U-shaped element is disposed in counter-boredrelation into a chamber of a revolver magazine, or into its bore so asto support the pistol without exposure of any apparent supportingelements. A flexible sleeve, slidably positioned over the supporting armof the U-shaped element accommodates a different caliber pistol.

This invention pertains to a pistol display and mounting devicetherefor. More particularly, the display serves to present a pistol inthe display with no apparent supports.

Gun fanciers, for many years, have displayed pistols within frames of atype resembling picture frames or shadow boxes. To support the pistols,such displays have, in the past, included pegs projecting from the backpanel of the picture frame at positions to underlie the muzzle, triggerguard or stock of the pistol. Other means for supporting pistols indisplays of the above kind have included pins formed with hooks whichextend upwardly on the viewers side of the weapon so as to keep theweapon in place. Yet another typical scheme for supporting pistols indisplays of the above kind included the use of fine wires which encirclevarious portions of the pistol.

In general, it is considered that the foregoing styles of display have,by virtue of the visible projections, detracted from the appearance ofthe weapon displayed.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedpistol display. It is another object of the invention to provide adevice for mounting a pistol in a display or otherwise in a manner whichpresents the pistol for viewing, free of distracting visible supports.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE .1 shows a pistol display, according to the invention; I

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, perspective view showing a mounting deviceemployed in the display of FIGURE 1; and

-FIGURE 3 shows another embodiment of a mounting device, according tothe invention, suitable for mounting an automatic pistol, of the typenot employing a rotating magazine.

A pistol display comprises a decorative picture frame in the form of ashadow box 11 including an upright supporting surface, as in the form ofthe back panel 12. Means for supporting a revolver 13 within theframework of picture frame 11 has been attached to back panel 12.

A mounting bracket 14, adapted to be secured to back panel 12, is formedwith a pair of flat portions 16 adapted to be secured flat against panel12 and a cylindrical portion 17 formed to join the two flat portions 16.

A U-shaped member 18 for carrying pistol 13 includes a leg portion 19adapted to be inserted into a longitudinal opening of pistol 13, such asone of the chambers of the magazine of revolver 13.

The other leg 21 of member 18 is disposed for journaled movements withincylindrical portion 17 of bracket ice 14 and U-member 18 is free toswivel about the axis of leg 21. Member 18 is retained withincylindrical portion 17 when bracket 14 has been attached to back panel12 as by screws 22. Thus, by means of'a retaining boss 23 formed on theend of leg 21, U-member 14 will be held in place. The diameter of boss23 is of lesser extent than the spacing between'the outer remote surfaceportions of cylindrical portion 17 and the surface of back panel 12. Inthis manner, boss 23 will not interfere with support of the weapon. I

A revolver 13 is supported by device 14 by inserting leg 19 into one ofthe open chambers of the magazine of the revolver. The length'of theintermediate portion 24 of member 18 is of sutficiently limited extentso as to cause the entire assembly 14 to remain hidden behind the pistolwhen it is carried for display. Flat portions 16 are likewise of limitedextent so that they also may remain hidden behind the pistol.

It is preferred to form leg 19 of a sufficiently small diametersubstantially corresponding to a small caliber weapon whereby it cansupport a revolver in the manner above described, free of undue tipping.Subsequently, if a larger caliber weapon is to be supported, a suitablediameter flexible sleeve 26, for example, of a plastic material or thelike, is slidably positioned onto leg 19 so as to build up the diameterof that leg whereby it snugly fits into the open chamber of the weapon.

When carried in this manner, a pistol will cause member 18 to swiveldownwardly until the pistol cooperatively engages the back panel 12 andrests thereagainst.

Another embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 3, is preferably utilized tosupport pistols of a type such as an automatic which does not employ arotatable magazine. In this instance, support for the pistol is achievedin a similar manner by means of the pair of brackets 31, 32. A U- shapedmember 33 necessarily requires a relatively long leg 34 which is adaptedto be inserted into the bore of the automatic 36 (shown in phantomlines).

In view of the fact that automatic 36 is being supported from its endrather than from substantially near its center of gravity (as in thecase of revolver 13), considerable twisting moments will be applied bythe weight of the automatic 36 to the U-shaped member 33 andparticularly to portion 35.

Accordingly, brackets 31, 32 are relatively widely spaced apart tojournal the ends of leg portion 40, but yet are dimensioned to be ofsufliciently limited extent so as to remain hidden behind automatic 36when member 33 is swiveled to its lowermost position when carrying theautomatic 36.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is providedherein an improved pistol display wherein the pistol appears to bemounted by invisible supports. Furthermore, the pistol can be readilyremoved from the display merely by sliding it off its mounting member.

The U-member 40, in an embodiment not shown, may be clamped firmlyagainst the surface of panel 12 and thereby precluding journaledmovements of member 40. For example, in such an embodiment, the brackets31, 32 may be open at the rear thereof and of an insufficient diameterto permit journaled movement whereby as they are screwed tightly topanel 12 by holding member 40, arm 34 can be rigidly supported. Such anembodiment would, therefore, serve to support a weapon free of contactwith back panel 12 and at a higher relative position with respect tobrackets 31, 32.

What is claimed is:

1. A pistol display comprising a decorative frame and a background paneltherefor, a mounting bracket secured to the background panel, saidmounting bracket including a first lower bracket portion secured to theback panel and a cylindrical portion carried by the upper end of thefirst portion, a U-shaped member for carrying a pistol in said frame,one leg of the U-shaped member being adapted to be inserted into anopening of the pistol longitudinally thereof so as to carry the pistoltherefrom, the otherleg of the U-shaped member being disposed forjournaled movements in said cylindrical portion and free to swivel to adegree carrying the pistol into cooperative engagement with thebackground panel, the intermediate portion of the U-shaped member andsaid first portion of the bracket both being of sufiiciently limitedextent to remain substantially entirely hidden behind the pistol whensaid pistol is so carried whereby the U-shaped member and the bracketremain hidden behind the pistol when viewed from in front of the panel.

2. For displaying a pistol free of apparent supports therefor from anupright supporting background surface against which the pistol is to bedisplayed, a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to the surface, saidmounting bracket including a lower bracket flat portion to be securedflat against said surface and a cylindrical portion carried by the upperend of the fiat portion, a U-shaped member for carrying the pistol, oneleg of the U-shaped member being adapted to be inserted into an openingof the pistol longitudinally thereof so as to carry said pistoltherefrom, the other leg of the U-shaped member being disposed forjournaled movements in said cylindrical porrtion and free to swivel to adegree carrying the pistol into cooperative engagement with the surface,and the intermediate portion of the U-member being of sufiicientlylimited extent to hold the pistol in front of the U-member and bracketat a level serving to obscure both said U- member and bracket from theview of a person positioned in front of the display so that the U-shapedmember and the bracket remain hidden behind the pistol when said pistolengages said surface, said flat portion also being of sufiicientlylimited extent to remain hidden behind said pistol.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,162 6/ 1905 Schmidt 20680945,520 1/-19l0 Greenwood 211-64 X 2,936,148 5/1960 Gralewicz 2483083,370,702 2/1968 Rosen 248205 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner A.FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 20680; 248-205, 308

